Ballyliffin's beach houses are located in one of the island's most exposed areas - County Donegal's Wild Atlantic Way
The Ballyliffin Beach Houses comprise two four-bedroom homes and two coastal apartments with views of Pollan Bay and Ballyliffin Golf club, all designed as gateway destinations for sustainable, short and medium-term stays.
They were developed by Atlantic Front Ventures and delivered by timber frame construction specialists Newtownstewart.
Although the properties are not Passivhaus certified, the design team implemented key Passivhaus principles to meet nearly-zero energy building (nZEB) standards, ensuring long-term energy efficiency and year-round comfort.
The coastal location presented tough challenges, including driving rain, high humidity and wind exposure - all of which demanded a high-performing building envelope.
This project highlights the benefits of offsite construction, precision detailing and the use of sustainable, high-performance materials.
Specifying Partel at Ballyliffin Beach Houses
Partel’s building envelope systems were key to achieving exceptional thermal performance in a demanding coastal climate. Some of the advanced building components specified were:
- Exoperm Mono SA 250 membrane provided a self-adhering, durable weather defence that’s highly resistant to rain and UV exposure, while remaining vapour-open to allow the structure to breathe.
- For interior airtightness at key junctions, Vara Plus and the more sustainable Vara Plus Eco layers were used. Their smart vapour control ensures internal moisture regulation, even in Donegal’s damp conditions.
- At window and door junctions, Vara Seal SL tape was applied to achieve an airtight seal. This tape is certified by the Passivhaus Institut and performs reliably in challenging climates, further reducing energy loss and improving overall airtightness. Blower door tests showed airtightness levels between 1.8 and 2.4 ACH50 - well within the required nZEB performance targets.
Additional measures such as triple-glazed windows, air-to-water heat pumps, MVHR systems and solar PV panels helped all homes achieve an A1 BER rating.
For more information about Partel's solutions for Passivhaus and nZEB construction, visit partel.co.uk
Contact:
0203 740 1918
sales@partel.co.uk